The mediators

Different perspectives. A stronger path to resolution.

Brinkmann & Dickinson brings together two independent mediators, Yves Brinkmann and Thorn Dickinson, whose distinct professional backgrounds create a powerful advantage in resolving difficult disputes.

Mediator

Yves Brinkmann

Yves Brinkmann specializes in high-conflict family matters, commercial disputes, and high-stakes negotiations. He serves as a mediator through the Maine Judicial Branch’s Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Service (CADRES).

When trust has deteriorated, communication has become polarized, or deeply entrenched patterns interfere with productive negotiation, Yves brings the psychological insight needed to recognize and address the underlying dynamics that stand in the way of resolution.

His background combines extensive clinical experience in trauma recovery and relational repair with a substantial career as a founder, executive, and investor, building and leading technology companies and advising startups on strategy, risk, and consequential decisions.

This uncommon combination makes him both a perceptive listener and a clear strategist. He recognizes the forces driving a conflict, weighs each side’s interests, leverage, and alternatives, and helps develop practical, sustainable agreements. His approach is calm, attentive, and direct, moving participants beyond entrenched positions toward resolution.

Mediator

Thorn C. Dickinson

Thorn Dickinson brings 34 years of experience navigating complex negotiations, competing interests, and high-stakes decisions. His career has been shaped by leading major capital and infrastructure initiatives, working across corporate leadership, business partners, community advocates, and regulatory authorities.

Throughout his career, Thorn has worked where interests conflict, priorities compete, and agreement requires more than compromise. His strength lies in bringing structure and perspective to complicated situations, identifying common ground, evaluating practical alternatives, and helping people move toward workable decisions.

In addition to his private practice, Thorn serves as a rostered mediator for the Maine Judicial Branch’s Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Service (CADRES).

Thorn brings a steady, disciplined, and impartial presence to mediation. His ability to navigate complexity, understand competing interests, and maintain focus on practical outcomes helps participants move beyond disagreement toward informed, sustainable resolutions.

Independent judgment. Shared commitment.

Our signature co-mediation approach combines psychological insight, business experience, and strategic negotiation. Working together throughout the process, we examine conflicts from different perspectives, recognize barriers that might otherwise go unnoticed, and identify opportunities for agreement that a single approach may overlook.

Our goal is not simply to facilitate difficult conversations, but to make meaningful, lasting resolution more achievable, particularly when positions have hardened, trust has deteriorated, or previous efforts have failed.

For matters better suited to a traditional approach, either mediator is also available individually.

We believe that difficult disputes deserve more than a process for managing disagreement. They deserve the strongest possible opportunity for resolution.

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